Wednesday, 3 September, 2025
Lee-Zanne Flaatten
We are seeking a highly motivated and energetic Procurement Manager to lead citrus sourcing in the Northern areas of South Africa (Limpopo, KZN) and into Botswana, Mozambique, Egypt, and Morocco.
The ideal candidate has roots in farming, relates naturally to growers, understands fruit quality and production challenges, and is equally connected with the commercial side of the business to align grower returns with customer requirements.
This role requires strong interpersonal skills, commercial curiosity, and the ability to work under pressure with professionalism, transparency, and drive.
Key Responsibilities
- Grower Development & Acquisition
- Identify and develop new citrus sourcing opportunities in Limpopo, KZN, Botswana, Mozambique, Egypt, and Morocco.
- Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with growers.
- Onboard new growers, ensuring compliance with quality, food safety, and market requirements (MRLs, varietal specs, protocols).
- Support growers in improving fruit flow, packout %, and profitability.
- Quality & Technical Oversight
- Conduct frequent farm visits to assess crop quality, yields, and harvesting standards.
- Check fruit quality at source and collaborate with packhouses.
- Assist in negotiating with customers when quality claims arise, protecting both grower and client relationships.
- Commercial Integration
- Act as the bridge between growers and the TWP commercial team.
- Translate customer demands and market pricing into fair and transparent grower offers.
- Provide growers with regular updates on pricing trends, sales progress, and market dynamics.
- Negotiate and close procurement agreements balancing profitability with long-term grower trust.
- Market & Reporting
- Monitor and analyze production volumes, market conditions, and grower performance.
- Prepare professional presentations and updates for growers, showing sales accounts, balances payable, and market outlooks.
- Report regularly to management on sourcing status, risks, and opportunities.
- Administration & Recordkeeping
- Maintain clear and accurate records of fruit purchases, prices offered, balances payable to growers, and contract terms.
- Ensure compliance with company policies, protocols, and reporting standards.
Required Profile
Education & Background
- Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Business, or related field (preferred). As I said before, if you have the right person without these degrees, please propose the candidate to us anyway.
- Practical farming roots or family background in agriculture strongly valued.
Experience
- Ideal with minimum 5 years in citrus/fresh fruit procurement, farm management, or sourcing roles.
- Experience dealing with growers and understanding their technical and commercial challenges.
- Exposure to international citrus trade is an advantage.
Skills & Competencies
- Strong quality assessment and technical knowledge of citrus.
- Excellent negotiation and relationship management skills.
- Analytical and commercially savvy — ability to link customer needs with grower offers.
- Proficiency with Excel.
- Professional presentation and communication skills.
Personal Attributes
- Energetic, dynamic, and curious — eager to grow business opportunities.
- Transparent and professional; highly trusted by both growers and colleagues.
- Willingness to travel extensively across South Africa and internationally.
- Resilient, hardworking, and able to perform under stress and long hours.
- A true team player: works closely with commercial, logistics, and quality teams.
- Balanced: ambitious to grow business but cautious to protect both growers and clients.
Email CV in WORD format: cvs@agricruitment.co.za
Please consider your application as unsuccessful if you have not been contacted within 2 weeks.
POPIA: by applying for the position, the applicant gives permission to the company to scrutinise and process personal information shared.